...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Although today's news that Chael Sonnen failed his post-UFC 117 performance enhancing drug test likely at the very least delays his rematch with Anderson Silva, Silva's manager Ed Soares says until they hear otherwise, they will operate under the assumption that the fight is still on.
"I'm going to consider the fight being a fight until told otherwise," Soares said in comments made to MMAFighting.com. "If it is a mishap, I hope this whole thing gets straightened out."
Sonnen's post event PED screening had him flagged for something which has not yet been reported. A suspension is likely on the way, although Sonnen will have an opportunity to appeal the result. If that happens, the rematch, tentatively scheduled for the beginning of 2011, will likely be scrapped and someone else may get a shot at Silva.
""If this is true, I feel really bad for him," said Soares. "I don't think anybody is stoked to hear that, not even us. I'm bummed for him."
Penick's Analysis: The CSAC will hand down some type of disciplinary action this week, and the fight with Silva will almost assuredly be off. The best Sonnen can hope for is for the fight to be delayed, but if he's suspended six months at the least and Silva is ready to return by February, the UFC will put someone else in that spot. Perhaps Nate Marquardt gets his second crack at Silva, or the winner of the Belfort-Okami fight in November gets a shot. Michael Bisping may also get a shot if he gets past Yoshihiro Akiyama, but the UFC definitely lost the big rematch, and even if they still put it together this failed test really brings down the luster of that fight.
RELATED STORY: UFC NEWS: Chael Sonnen positive for PED's after UFC 117 loss to Anderson Silva: [CLICK TO READ FULL ARTICLE]
DON'T GO YET... WE SUGGEST THESE MMATORCH ARTICLES, TOO!
Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
Interested in joining MMATorch's writing team? Send idea for a theme to your column (for Specialist section) or area of interest (i.e. TV Reporter) along with a sample of writing to mmatorch@gmail.com.
